Friday July 29, I was witness to an eclectic cultural phenomenon taking place in Miami known as the "Moksha Family Party." Apparently, the term "Moksha" is a Sanskrit reference that means liberation and enlightenment, and according to a mission statement, the "Moksha Family Party" is all about embracing the arts to bring us all closer to cultural and spiritual freedom.

Promoted and organized by Earthnoize (a group of local artists), the Moksha Family Party featured performances by Suenalo Sound System, Wave Tronic, Zedek DJAH, Jose Elias, Ferni & Friends, and Rhythm Flow, as well as works by artists Donna Torres, Bhakti Baxte, Arnold Steiner, Paul Lewin, Nagga, Franky, and the Beast. The main goal of Earthnoize is to expose and promote world music artists and culture through local events.

The event was held at the 7th Circuit Studios, which is down the street from Churchill's pub. It consisted of a front room that served as a gallery for the featured artists, and a larger main room where the highlighted performances were held. There was also a large lawn area behind the building that had several booths that ranged from Greenpeace to refreshments as well as another smaller stage where more performances were being held.

Overall, the Moksha Family Party delivered a unique atmosphere that blended a most diverse mix of what Miami has to offer. There was a good mix of music that ranged from the Caribbean/Funk/ Hip-Hop/Rock fusion of Suenalo Sound System, to five a piece electronica/world percussion arrangement, to chanting Buddhist monks, incredibly chill DJ's spinning everything from retro Hip-Hop beats to Samba, and even a couple of high flying aerialists to accompany the performances.

In a city that's struggling to have its own face, and where culture typically refers to something that comes from a Latin country and is held as a festival event in a park, I think it's a good and worthy cause to see local artists striving to create a scene that will breed creativity and cultural awareness. According to Earthnoize, the very cool and good vibed - Moksha Family Party is here to stay. It will be held once a month at its permanent home, the 7th Circuit Studios. So keep an eye on the official website Earthnoize.com, for info on next month's event.